I write this from the Beverly Hilton in the fancy 90210 hood. Its my 2nd big trip to SoCal in the last 18 months. I'm still stuck in Eastern Standard Time and find myself waking at 4:30 AM PST. At least I get an early start on the day!

The LA area is pretty much dominated by Date Palms, BOP and Sago. Throw in some basic Agaves, some Aloe arborescens and an occasional Jade and that pretty much defines much of the generic succulent growth. Lots of nice big Oaks. Eucalyptus, Acacias and other cool trees as well.

Some places and homes obviously make a better effort to display their landscaping and they stand out. As far as I'm concerned, the use of color, shape and form in droughtland plants is unrivaled in the plant kingdom.

I did have a chance to see the garden in the Wrigley Memorial on Catalina Island. Some of the older specimens were amazing. This Island is a gem. If you"ve never been, you're missing out. It is a fantastically peaceful place with a distinctive European flair. I suppose it's better off being kept somewhat of a secret, lest the East Coast contingent ruin its charm.

I also spent half a day at the Huntington on Saturday. It was breathtaking. The sheer volume and size of the plants in the Dry Gardens is a sight to behold. The greenhouse was ho-hum to me. It looked too much like things I have or am used to seeing. I have some photos and I will share them when I return. The Japanese Garden was also particularly nice.

I'm heading over to Santa Barbara later today, and end my trip in Anaheim for some Disney fun. Enjoy the rest of the

summer!

x